Author 



Title 


Imprint 


10-27179-1 GPO 




















r " ' T..; f '■ \< * ' i* •- ;• ■ .*) ' ■*» V .fl '* .*• ./• .it'. \i* r .-V - vji '*»*•• -v. * I, ‘ \ < , --A; • 'r'--. • 

»V: > • ‘-'I/, ' 1 'ff\A 1 • 1 AlV »• ,‘lAv -V'. -V*, .*• • • r - L i’. v . ■»'•' £• : V. *J- •i*Wv A ' W : ' i’/S*' '■ 1 lr^ • V' 1 ' •*£;> fc . ■ •_• ..IVi T « " •'*•# •- 1 

r -^;: v -v-;V -.v K&M'v v f; • V 8 

® ft*•* * v'm '*>*&*<k ^v\; 


* 

: I- V- Jfetfc »ij ■.; :;j;'*«:\ f v M 5 h ; ,« : .;s% )%' ««i\ 

■ 


. 

: \ .. ->; :^J >• , •-4 --^v- x> - *K.; J .a^..;*v'-tea.:,* M .v ;,<jv:.. #• i • .;.s^ . -.v.-, • 


■.'. ftp -w '*,■■- - * #,t. •-,> n i • ’.i ,• .1 ij ■ ,0. •'. >»-»..* * 1 •.-»-. v «.* .-I. •, v '-v* » < iiv .. . .¥>, v,r*i 

. .- 1 .. -’-i ' C'* . i! ■ <r 

• mm I lyfe 5"4#-' ■:'i wSSiPd# ®s ©.«» 

. 



' ■- -•. J •:. . •• '/' ’ , r v ., *.■ ■ /• :•-• ) . m\' -'i • , •? , , v 

»-f: t f ;fh a ; W ' ■■•, # 4 :• V;.,' ■' 1<‘§mk 


W&Mi 

<;.1 J f«j '■ 


,-. ^w, >11 tf*V ■ <■■ ■’■ 


ft. >ft ft • v 9 - Jr ;-. . 't-1 •<( !%•/•••< v > ,•• :«• • ..i 

’P$. ', vfl».vV ! J,V, wJ 1 N' & ;S% j>#'' 

i->» ' ■ •>' '’ol ! ' v • v.) v * 5 --^ * 

.-V ')•■'■-. .v - : . 'V-- '<- ■■ • ■.i-\1,'-,F v ': 












NATIONAL 
PUBLICITY BILL 
ORGANIZATION 

• inJl 

MINUTES OF FIRST MEETING 

IN WASHINGTON, D. C. 

AND AN 


ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC. 



GLOBE PRINTINC COMPANY 
Washington, D. G. 












>.<$& .'.-V ;?■ K',&M '* W M V'Ji &I< 

Ml m ■ ’•.&'# ' 4"\V l \\ 

1 M*‘W i !.■ , r.V -A, :, -.v, • i U 1 •, V ‘' •/» , M4 

\'i • ■■-:''•■■■ >' v- ..vW !•■’ r 

* 

; v ' 'v,' J 1 . v , <; '-viv' 




S/f 


jKm7 

Nj 


National Publicity Bill Organization. 


The first meeting of the National Organization to 
secure the enforced publicity of election contributions 
and expenditures in national campaigns was held in the 
New Willard Hotel, Washington, D. C., on Wednesday, 
January 17th, 1906, at 11 A. M. in pursuance of the follow¬ 
ing call: 

“PUBLICITY BILL ORGANIZATION. 

1301 Sixteenth St., 

Washington, D. C, 
December 30, 1905. 

Dear Sir: 

In obedience to the request of a majority of the mem¬ 
bers I take pleasure in informing you that a meeting of the 
Publicity Bill Organization will be held at the New Will¬ 
ard Hotel, Washington, D. C., on Wednesday, January the 
17th, 1906, at 11 A. M. Your attendance is earn¬ 
estly desired. 

Very truly yours, 

PERRY BELMONT. 

Chairman/’ 

There was a well attended and influential gathering, 
among those present being: 

General James H. Wilson, Wilmington, Del. 

W. B. Thompson, Dover, Del. 

Hon. D. L. W. Granger, M. C., Rhode Island. 

Samuel Gompers, President American Federation of 
Labor. 

Hon. Claude A. Swanson, Gov. Elect of Va. 


A. 



2 


Hon. Samuel W. McCall, M. C., Massachusetts. 

Hon. W. E. Chandler, former U. S. Senator from 
New Hampshire. 

Hon. Charles A. Towne, M. C., New York, represent¬ 
ing T. T. Hudson, Member of Dem. National Committee 
Minnesota. 

Norman E. Mack, of Buffalo, N. Y., member of Na¬ 
tional Democratic Committee. 

Attorney General Julius Mayer of New York. 

J. G. Schurman, President Cornell University, New 
York. 

Charles A. Gardiner, Chairman of Law Committee of 
the Board of Regents, of New York State. 

John T. Dunlap of New York. 

James Wilson, President of the Pattern Makers Nat¬ 
ional Union, New York. 

Frank K. Foster, Chairman of Legislative Committee 
of Massachusetts Federation of Labor, Delegate of the 
American Federation of Labor to the British Trade Union 
Congress. 

Cromwell Gibbons, Jacksonville, Fla. 

Hon. Hannis Taylor, Alabama, former Minister to 
Spain. 

Plon. John E. Lamb, Terre Haute, Ind. 

Hon. John T. McGraw, Grafton, West Va., Member of 
Democratic National Committee. 

Hon. Alex Troup, Connecticut. 

Hon. Chas. S. Hamlin, Massachusetts. 

Van L. Polk, Tennessee. 

Hon. Urey Woodson, Member Democratic National 
Committee, Owensboro, Ky. 

Hon. Perry Belmont, of New York, in calling the 
meeting to order spoke as folows:—The bill of which 
copies have been placed in your hands has been introduced 
gift 

urns. WSCE “'u39 

NOV. 25, 1959 


3 


in the House by Representative McCall, of Massachusetts, 
and in the Senate by Senator Patterson, of Colorado, and is 
a measure of self-regulation and self-protection, an evolu¬ 
tionary development growing out of our own political sys¬ 
tem. It is a Publicity Bill not a Corrupt Practice Bill. The 
English act of 1883 is a creditable piece of legislation, but it 
is only during the actual period of parliamentary elections 
its wholesome restrictions are effective upon candidates and 
their agents. Party funds are very large and are expended 
lavishly by party organizations and their adherents, political 
contributions taking the form of what is known as “sub¬ 
scriptions,” made before a parliamentary candidacy is act¬ 
ually announced. 

American politics are not more corrupt than the poli¬ 
tics of other countries. The contrary is true. But we want 
them better still. The rapid strides in wealth, with all their 
benefits, have naturally created certain disadvantages. The 
great captains of industry have been induced or compelled, 
or they have permitted themselves on one pretext or an¬ 
other to endeavor to control political agencies and organi¬ 
zations by the use of money. The time has now come to 
check this growing tendency. Many who are active in polit¬ 
ical organizations unite in this conviction. Members of 
the national committees of the two dominant parties are 
enrolled in our organization. Their practical experience 
leads them to favor the form of publicity required by the 
proposed law. Organized labor is energetically demanding 
it. The presence of Mr. Gompers and other labor repre¬ 
sentatives is sufficient evidence of this fact. 

National committees established by national conven¬ 
tions, not recognized by the Constitution, have grown from 
small and temporary agencies to permanent and powerful 
instrumentalities, receiving and spending vast sums in com¬ 
plete secrecy. The proposed law would not interfere direct¬ 
ly or indirectly with the election laws of any state. Limited 


4 


in its effect to the requirement of the publication of cam¬ 
paign contributions and expenditures by the national and 
congressional committees, it does not invade the rights and 
functions of any state political committee. The law would 
make campaign money public money. 

With this brief reference to the bill may I be per¬ 
mitted to call your attention to the representative character 
of this assemblage, adding new impetus to an already strong 
national movement. The influential representation from 
Delaware is especially encouraging in view of conditions 
within its borders, as is the co-operation of Representative 
Granger, of Rhode Island, and the important labor enroll¬ 
ment from that state. Rhode Island, whose sons have so 
often and so brilliantly served their flag and country, will 
follow the example of Massachusetts and of Connecticut 
in an effective publicity law to rid herself of the dead weight 
of mere money domination. 

We have met to exchange views and to consult as 
to what further steps should be taken to promote the legisla¬ 
tion we have in view. With its general scope you are all 
familiar, and I now refer this important subject to you to 
be dealt with as best accords with your judgement. 

At the close of Mr. Belmont’s remarks, Mr. Chand¬ 
ler said:—I wish to tender personal thanks to Mr. 
Belmont for having originated this movement and for hav¬ 
ing published his admirable article in the North American 
Review. As we as members of this Committee are gather¬ 
ed together for the first time, I think it is advisable that we 
should make a formal organization. I therefore have pre¬ 
pared some resolutions, which I will read. 

After the reading of the resolutions, Mr. Samuel 
Gompers with the concurrence of Mr. Chandler moved 
to amend the resolutions by declaring the object of 
the Association to be to “eliminate” instead of “reduce” as 
at first suggested, the evils arising from the expenditure 
of large sums of money in political elections. 


5 


On motion of Gen. James H. Wilson of Delaware a 
sentence was added providing for securing organizations in 
each state with similar purposes in view. 

As thus amended the resolutions were unanimously 
adopted as follows: 

“Resolved, by the National Publicity Bill Organization, 
at its first meeting, at the New Willard Hotel, in Washing¬ 
ton, on January 17th, 1906, That the organization approve 
the action hitherto taken by Hon. Perry Belmont in origin¬ 
ating this organization, in arousing public attention to the 
object to be promoted, and in preparing a bill for submis¬ 
sion to Congress; and that the organization be now formally 
completed for the purpose of eliminating by all appropriate 
methods the evils which result from the expenditure of large 
sums of money in political elections; the object of the Com¬ 
mittee being to secure the passage of an act of Congress 
providing for publicity in the receipts and expenditures of 
the national committees of all political parties, and to pro¬ 
mote the formation of local organizations for eliminating 
such evils in the various States and Territories.” 

“Resolved, That the Chairman of this Organization 
be authorized to appoint an Executive Committee, of which 
he shall be the head, and such other committees as he shall 
deem necessary to act for and in the name of the Organ¬ 
ization on all suitable occasions.” 

“Resolved, that Perry Belmont be and hereby is elected 
permanent President of the Organization. 

Mr. Belmont took the chair as permanent presiding 
officer and thanked the members for this mark of their ap¬ 
preciation, promising to do all he could to further the ob¬ 
jects of the Organiaztion. 

Mr. Samuel Gompers moved that the Organization 
proceed to the election of a Secretary, and nominated Mr. 
Frank K. Foster, of Massachusetts, Chairman of the Legis¬ 
lative Committee of the Massachusetts Federation of Labor. 

Mr. Foster was unanimously chosen and took his place 
as Secretary of the meeting. 

A list of members forming the organization was pre¬ 
sented and was read by the Secretary as follows: 


6 


National Publicity Bill Organization 


LIST OF MEMBERS 

Perry Belmont, New York. 

Joseph W. Folk, Governor of Missouri. 

J. Frank Hanly, Governor of Indianna. 

A. J. Montague, Governor of Virginia. 

A. B. Cummins, Governor of Iowa. 

N. C. Blanchard, Governor of Louisiana. 

Louis Warfield, Governor of Maryland. 

W. M. O. Dawson, Governor of West Virginia. 
William D. Jenks, Governor of Alabama. 

Sami. W. Pennypacker, Governor of Pennsylvania. 
Geo. E. Chamberlain, Governor of Oregon. 

Claude A. Swanson, Governor-Elect of Virginia. 
Grover Cleveland, former President of the United 
States. 

Alton B. Parker, former Chief Justice Court of Ap¬ 
peals, New York. 

Wm. J. Bryan, Nebraska. 

Frank FI. Black, former Governor of New York. 

L. F. C. Garvin, former Governor of Rhode Island. 
Sami. Gompers, Pres. American Federation of Labor, 
New York. 

Chas. W. Eliot, President Harvard University, Mass¬ 
achusetts. 

Edward A. Alderman, President University of Vir¬ 
ginia. 

W. FI. P. Faunce, Pres. Brown University, Rhode 
Island. 

Henry Hopkins, Pres. Williams College, Massachu¬ 
setts. 

J. G. Schurman, Pres. Cornell University, New York. 
William Dew Hyde, Pres. Bowdoin College, Maine. 
Ira Remsen, Pres. John Hopkins University, Mary¬ 
land. 

E. Benjamin Andrews, Pres. Nebraska University. 
George Harris, Pres. Amherst College, Massachusetts. 



7 


M. W. Stryker, Pres. Hamilton College, New York. 

James A. Tate, Pres. American University, Tennessee. 

Geo. L. Collie, Pres. Beloit College, Wisconsin. 

J. H. Kirkland, Chancellor Vanderbilt University, 
Tennessee. 

David S. Jordan, Pres. Leland Stanford, Jr., Uni¬ 
versity, California. 

Chas. H. Levermore, Pres. Adelphi College, New 
York. 

M. H. Chamberlain, Pres. McKendree College, Leban¬ 
on, Ill. 

Lorenzo J. Osborn, Pres. Des Moines College, Iowa. 

Stephen F. Weston, Pres. Antioch College, Yellow 
Springs, Ohio. 

Chas. Noble Gregory, Dean of Law College, Iowa 
State University, Iowa City. 

W. L. Ward, New York, Member Republican Nation¬ 
al Committee. 

Norman E. Mack, New York, Member Democratic 
National Committee. 

Wm. E. Chandler, former Secretary of the Navy, New 
Hampshire. 

James K. Jones, former Chairman Democratic Nation¬ 
al Committee, Arkansas. 

John Wanamaker, former Post-Master General, Penn¬ 
sylvania. 

Oscar S. Strauss, former Minister to Turkey, New 
York. 

Chas. E. Hughes, Counsel to New York Legislative 
Insurance Investigating Committee. 

Julius M. Mayer, Attorney-General of New York. 

Warner Miller,former U. S. Senator from New York. 

John M. Thurston, former U. S. Senator from Ne¬ 
braska. , 

Wm. F. Vilas, former Postmaster-General, Wisconsin. 

Everett Colby, State Senator-Elect, New Jersey. 

August Belmont, Treasurer Democratic National Com¬ 
mittee, New York. 

Melville E. Ingalls, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Judson E. Harmon, former U. S. Atty. Genl., Ohio. 

John E. Lamb, former member of Congress from In¬ 
diana. 


8 


J. W. Kern, former candidate for Governor of Indiana. 

T. M. Patterson, U. S. Senator from Colorado. 

Clark Howell, Member Democratic National Commit* 
tee from Georgia. 

Carter Harrison, former Mayor of Chicago. 

Josiah Quincy, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Roger C. Sullivan, Member Democratic National Com¬ 
mittee from Illinois. 

Alexander Troup, New Haven, Connecticut. 

Chas. A. Gardiner, Chairman Law Committee, of the 
Board of Regents, N. Y. State. 

Andrew Carnegie, Pennsylvania. 

John F. Dillon, former Judge, New York. 

John T. McGraw, Member Democratic National Com¬ 
mittee from West Virginia. 

D. L. D. Granger, Member of Congress from Rhode 
Island. 

James H. Wilson, Wilmington, Del. 

John G. Milburn, New York. 

W. F. Plarrity, former Chairman Democratic Nation¬ 
al Committee, Pennsylvania. 

Henry Watterson, Editor of Louisville Courier Journal, 
Kentucky. 

Melville E. Stone, New York. 

W. B. Vandiver, Superintendent Insurance, Missouri. 

R. R. Kenney, Member Democratic National Com¬ 
mittee from Delaware. 

Edward Lauterbach, Member of New York State 
Board of Regents. 

J. J. Willett, former Judge, Alabama. 

John Ford, former State Senator, New York. 

Hermann Ridder, Publisher Staatz-Zeitung, New 
York. 

J. Hampden Robb, former State Senator from New 
York. 

D. N. Lockwood, Buffalo, New York. 

Geo. Haven Putnam, Publisher, New York City. 

Frances Lynde Stetson, New York City. 

J. H. Clarke, Cleveland, Ohio. 

B. B. Smalley, Member Democratic National Commit¬ 
tee from Vermont. 


9 


R. B. Van Courtlandt, New York City. 

William Sulzer, Member of Congress from New York. 

Chas. W. Knapp, St. Louis, Missouri. 

P. H. Quinn, Member Democratic National Commit¬ 
tee from Rhode Island. 

J. B. Sullivan, Des Moines, Iowa. 

Chas. S. Hamlin, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Eugene S. Ives, Tucson, Arizona. 

Cromwell Gibbons, Jacksonville, Florida. 

W. R. Nelson, Kansas City, Missouri. 

Frank K. Foster, Massachusetts Federation of Labor. 

P. J. McCarthy, Providence, Rhode Island. 

P. S. Grosscup, U. S. Circuit Judge, Illinois. 

James M. Lynch, Pres. International Typographical 
Union, Indiana. 

John Y. Terry, Member Democratic National Commit¬ 
tee from State of Washington. 

John W. Blodgett, Member Republican National Com- 
mittee from Michigan. 

J. M. Greene, Member Republican National Commit¬ 
tee from South Dakota. 

W. A. Coakley, General President International Litho¬ 
graphers & Press Feeders Association, New York. 

J. A. Springer, National Organiser United Mine 
Workers, West Virginia. 

Park Mitchell, former President New Hampshire 
State Federation of Labor. 

Timothy Healy, Pres. International Brotherhood of 
Stationary Firemen, New York. 

John Nugent, Pres. W. Va., State Federation of Labor. 

Wm. A. Gaston, Member Democratic National Com¬ 
mittee from Massachusetts. 

Hoke Smith, former Secretary of the Interior. 

Wm. J. Wallace, U. S. Circuit Judge, Albany, New 
York. 

J. K. Richards, U. S. Circuit Judge, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Horace H. Lurton, U. S. Circuit Judge, Nashville, 
Tennessee. 

James G. Jenkins, U. S. Circuit Judge, Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin. 

L. E. McComas, Judge Court of Appeals, Washington, 
D. C. 


10 


A. M. Stevenson, Member Republican National Com- 
mitee, Denver, Colorado. 

Urey Woodson, Member Democratic National Com¬ 
mittee, Owensboro, Kentucky. 

H. S. Cummings, Member Democratic National Com¬ 
mittee, Stamford, Conn. 

T. E. Ryan, Member Democratic National Committee. 
Waukesha, Wisconsin. 

Frederick V. Holman, Member Democratic National 
Committee, Portland, Oregon. 

T. T. Hudson, Member Democratic National Commit¬ 
tee, Duluth, Minnesota. 

Henry B. Thompson, former Chairman Republican 
State Committee, Wilmington, Delaware. 

Henry T. Kent, St. Louis, Missouri. 

Martin Maginnis, President Soldiers Home, Helena, 
Montana. 

E. E. Clark, Chief Order Railroad Conductors, Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa. 

John T. Wilson, Pres, of Maintainance of Way Em¬ 
ployees, St. Louis, Missouri. 

Robert C. Houston, Georgetown, Delaware. 

James Wilson, Pres. National Pattern Makers’ Union, 
New York. 

Louis Wiley, New York. 

Joseph Daniels, Raleigh, North Carolina. 

Thos. C. McClellan, Albany, New York. 

Hannis Taylor, Alabama, former Minister to Spain. 

D. R. Francis, St. Louis, Missouri. 

Crammond Kennedy, Washington, D. C. 

The Chairman stated that he had a number of letters 
before him, but unless the meeting desired them to be read 
they would be printed. 

It was so ordered. 

Mr. Norman E. Mack, of Buffalo: I do not know of 
any State in the Union that will stand more in favor of 
these resolutions than the State of New York. We have as 
much reason as any other State for favoring the measure. I 
cannot imagine how any man can be opposed to it. The Bill 


11 


speaks for itself. We are all familiar with what has been 
going on in the use of money in State, local and national 
campaigns. We all know that it is not only a menace to the 
country, but to political parties themselves. The State of 
New York will stand back of the measure almost unani¬ 
mously. Any man either in the upper or lower House op¬ 
posing or voting against this measure will be looked upon 
with great curiosity and is likely to have his picture taken. 

Mr. Chandler: Can you tell us the condition of the 
Bill in the New York Legislature? 

The Chairman: Notwithstanding it was introduced 
very late in the session it passed the State Senate and the 
Judiciary and Rules Committees of the Assembly, but failed 
to pass the latter body on account of an immaterial amend¬ 
ment which, however, had the effect of preventing its going 
back to the Senate before the final adjournment. 

Mr. Mack, of New York: It was introduced again last 
Monday. I am inclined to think from what I heard the Bill 
will pass in its present form or very nearly so. Personally 
I am very much in favor of this measure you have under 
consideration. Money enough can be raised for campaign 
purposes without contributing a hundred thousand dollars 
at a time. A man can contribute five thousand dollars and 
have it printed that he has done so and no one will object. 
But when money is paid over, a hundred thousand dollars 
at a crack, as has been done recently by some of our corpor¬ 
ations, the time has come when the public won’t take to it 
very kindly. As far as the State of New York is concern¬ 
ed, I think I am justified in stating: the sentiment is as strong 
in favor of the proposed legislation as in any other State in 
the Union. I have in my hand a list of Labor Organiza¬ 
tions in the State of New York which have endorsed the 
Publicity Bill, which I will ask the Secretary to read. 

The Secretary read as follows: 


12 


The following central labor bodies in the State of New 
York have by resolution indorsed the Publicity Bill: Central 
Federated Union of Manhattan, Central Labor Union of 
New York, New York Typographical Union (No. 6), 
Pattern Makers’ Association of New York City and vicinity, 
Trades Assembly of Poughkeepsie, Trades Assembly of 
Fort Edward, Central Labor Union of Ticonderoga, Central 
Federation of Labor of Troy, Trades Assembly of Utica, 
Central Trades and Labor Council of Rochester, Central La¬ 
bor Union of Batavia, Central Labor Union of Geneva, 
Trades Assembly, of Ballston, Spa., Central Labor Council, 
of Jamestown, Central Labor Union, of Binghamton, Cen¬ 
tral Labor Union of Middletown, Hod Carriers and Build¬ 
ing Laborer’s Union of Utica. 

Mr. Schurman, of Cornell University: I hold in my 
hand a document giving an interview with Hon. Seth 
Low, of New York, in relation to a similar reform move¬ 
ment with which it seems to me this might come into col¬ 
lision. Mr. Low, as Chairman of the Committee, appointed 
in connection with the movement to obtain purity of elec¬ 
tions says, that this bill of ours is based on the Massachu¬ 
setts Statute and adds, “Our information is that neither in 
Massachusetts nor in Connecticut have laws of this kind 
been of practical value.” 

The Chairman : It speaks well for the success of our 
movement that there should be rivalry in the effort to estab¬ 
lish organizations such as we have formed. Mr. Low evi¬ 
dently had not carefully read the Publicity Bill at the time 
he was interviewed. He assumes certain provisions to be 
there which are not there, or at least are not open to the 
interpretation he places upon them. He also omits to con¬ 
sider the provisions for the enforcement of the proposed law, 
which do not exist in the Massachusetts or Connecticut 
Statutes. It is rather surprising that Mr. Low is quoted as 
declaring that those laws are ineffective in Massachusetts 


13 


and Connecticut. I do not know whether, having been 
President of Columbia University, he would be willing to 
follow Professor Eliot, of Harvard, in the contrary opin¬ 
ion. I would rather take the testimony of Representative 
McCall, of Massachusetts, who has been a pioneer in this 
form of legislation and first introduced the Massachusetts 
Bill in 1889. He is prepared to say to Congress that the law 
has proved very beneficial and effective in his State. The 
Massachusetts law was enacted in 1892, and has been 
amended from time to time since then. Our Publicity Bill 
was drafted under very favorable auspices by a very strong 
law committee. I think it is a fortunate circumstance that 
Mr. Low’s association would be willing to aid this move¬ 
ment. We confine ourselves to the simple proposition of 
Publicity. Judge Gray, of Delaware, says of the effective¬ 
ness of such legislation: 

“Compelled publicity as to contributions and campaign 
expenses will be more efficient than all the Corrupt Practice 
Acts put together, towards suppressing the evil of electoral 
corruption. It will work automatically, and require no legal 
machinery of pains and penalties to enforce it. I mean that 
when the publicity is once enforced, the beneficial results 
flow automatically, without the intervention of penal legisla¬ 
tion.” 

While upon this subject I wish to refer to a letter just 
received from Mr. Knapp, of the St. Louis Republic . He 
says: 

“The Missouri statute requiring all public officials to 
make returns showing contributions received and the names 
of the persons making the contributions has been in effective 
operation for several years without eliciting any condemna¬ 
tory criticism. The law has been of salutory benefit here 
and I have no doubt that a similar enactment by Congress, 
which would assure the same sort of nublicitv all over the 
country, would be of great benefit in preventing such scand¬ 
als as the insurance investigation has disclosed.” 

The Governor of Missouri sends us the following tele¬ 
gram: 


14 


“Jefferson City, Mo., Jan. 16th, 1906—Appreciate 
your invitation very much but will be impossible for me to 
go there before Boston appointment. You have my best 
wishes for the success of the movement which I regard as 
of great importance and shall be glad to do anything that l 
can help it along. (Signed) Jos. W. Folk/’ 

There are fourteen States in which there are similar 
laws. The movement here to-day will unquestionably tend 
to arouse public sentiment and to make them more effective. 

Mr. Schurman : I think the members will agree with 
me that it was well I brought this subject forward so as to 
elicit the statement which the Chairman has made with so 
much perspicacity. I only regretted that in the State of 
New York a Committee composed of such representative 
men of action should throw doubt upon the efficacy of the 
measure to which we are committed. I think the remarks of 
the Chairman will dispel that doubt. 

Mr. Chandler : Now, as to the order of business to be 
adopted. The name “Publicity” given to this Committee 
seems to make its main object the eliminating of the evils 
through publicity, but we have certainly enlarged the scope 
of the Committee by the amendments we have added to it. 
It seems to me there are two subjects to be considered. 

1. Whether the present Bill is in the main a sound 
bill or whether it needs amendment. 

2. Then what else shall the Committee undertake to 
do by way of getting rid of the evils of much money spend¬ 
ing. 

But we certainly ought, while this meeting lasts, to see 
whether this present Bill substantially represents our views. 

Gen. Wilson, of Delaware: It seems to me Mr. 
Chandler has accurately stated the most important question 
for us to consider is the perfecting of this measure. I have 
read Mr. Chandler’s analysis and it has raised a serious 
doubt in my mind as to the efficacy of this measure. I rise 


15 


for the purpose of asking him—he is a master of this busin¬ 
ess—if in his judgment this Bill is already up to the full 
measure of drastic provisions within the limitations of the 
Constitution, that could be devised by a skilled and astute 
lawyer. 

Mr. Chandler : Passing those two qualifications over 
to the gentleman himself, I will answer him that this Bill 
was drawn by gentlemen designated for the purpose by 
Mr. Belmont. The first feature I noticed was that it was 
limited to national purposes—the securing of publicity to 
contributions given in aid of a National Committee. A 
National Committee is defined as a Committee designed to 
influence elections in two or more States. The intention is 
to apply this provision to National Committees, expecting 
that the States will apply their own remedies. Now, is *hat 
all this Committee ought to do? 

Mr. Wilson, of Delaware: Mr. Chandler knows there 
is great ingenuity displayed by the average politician in 
getting around the law. So it seems to me we should aim 
to make ~his Bill as broad as possible, and endeavor to have 
a series of Bills to supplement its provisions passed as soon 
as possible by the State Legislatures. Therefore I move 
that a Committee be appointed by the Chairman to frame 
an address to the country explaining the objects of this 
Association. 

The motion was adopted. 

Mr. Granger, of Rhode Island: In my opinion Mr. 
Chairman, there are many men in Rhode Island of both po 
litical parties who will be in favor of this bill. The State 
of Rhode Island has suffered perhaps more in proportion to 
its size than any other State from the evil this bill is intend¬ 
ed to reach, but I should regret to see this bill limited to 
National Committees. In Rhode Island we hardly know 
there is such a thing as a National Committee for the elec¬ 
tion of Members of Congress. 


16 


Mr. Towne, of New York: Would not this be met by 
saying, “Any Committee which concerns itself with the 
election of Members of Congress ?” 

Mr. Granger: If it could be enlarged in this way I 
think it would be of great value. I am sure the effect of 
this action on my State will be great. 

Mr. Mack, of New York: Where money is distribut¬ 
ed in States it is not done by the National Committees. The 
money is usually paid over to the Chairman of each State 
Committee and by him distributed. So there would be no 
trouble in evading the law. 

The Chairman: Cannot the States be relied upon to 
enact laws tp meet this condition ? 

Mr. Mack: I am afraid not. 

The Chairman: On the other hand, if we drew a bill 
in this broad way it would be very difficult to get it through 
Congress. The objection would be made that the proposed 
federal law might be extended so as to be an interference 
with State election laws and State regulations. 

Mr. Mack : I think you are right about that. 

Mr. Cromwell Gibbons, of Florida: I suggest in re¬ 
ply to the remarks of the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Mack) in regard to the National Committee turning over 
money to the State Committee for distribution, that even 
that state of affairs could be reached by publication which 
would start an inquiry as to what the money was used for. 
In my own State the main source of corruption is through 
the primaries. As much as a hundred thousand dollars has 
been paid to elect a U. S. Senator or a Congressman. 
People who accept $5, $10 or $100 a day to work at the 
polls would not accept it if there was danger of its being 
made public. I believe we could enact a primary law to 
carry out the features of the bill if it should pass. 

The Chairman : Have you any doubt if this Bill were 
passed, that there would follow the enactment of similar 
laws by your State? 


17 


Mr. Gibbons: I have no doubt if this Bill were passed 
that we could secure the adoption of a modification of it 
by the State, with the support of this organization, so as to 
affect the primaries. 

Mr. Lamb, of Indiana: The action of the committee 
meets my hearty approval. I think it is not so much the dis¬ 
tribution of money as the collection of money that we 
should strike at. The object of this movement is to prevent 
the giving of money,—not the distribution. The danger 
is in trying to do too much. In the first place this Bill 
gives the corporation that does not want to contribute an 
excuse fur not giving and a majority of them, in my opin¬ 
ion, are practically coerced into giving—blackmailed, in 
fact. In the second place, to those corporations who want 
to give, it furnishes a menace. Corporations who want to 
give money do not want it published because if publication 
is made, the object of giving the money fails. Therefore I 
am in favor of not going too far. If the National Legisla¬ 
ture blazes the way, the States will follow. Let us not in 
any way give rise to suspicion that we intend to interfere 
with the States. (Applause). 

Mr. Thompson, of Delaware: The reflex action of the 
work of this association is unquestionably going to help us 
in our various States. In Delaware, with a voting popula¬ 
tion of less than 50,000, we have two U. S. Senatorships. 
The Legislature is controlled by about two-fifths of our vot¬ 
ing population. You can see very easily no better field for 
fraud exists. We need such organizations as this and feel 
we are under your wing. We see the necessity of the two 
working together. 

Mr. McGraw, of West Virginia, moved that the con¬ 
sideration of the several bills now pending in Congress and 
such other bills as may be introduced be referred to a 
Law Committee to be appointed by the Chairman, 
they to report to the full Committee. He remarked that if 


18 


they were able to secure National Legislation, it seemed to 
him that such legislation would force State legislation. 

The Chairman : I understand that we are to have an 
Executive Committee, a Committee to prepare an Address, 
and a Law Committee. 

Mr. Gompers: I desire to state that I am very much 
interested in any species of legislation to arouse the public 
conscience against the evils resulting from the use and 
abuse of money in our elections. And of all the people who 
suffer from that cause, there are none who feel it more 
acutely than do the wage earners of America, for, apart 
from our general interest as citizens of our common coun¬ 
try, we also have special interests as wage earners who have 
emerged from old conditions of servitude to a full condi¬ 
tion of enfranchisement and manhood, and who have too 
long been denied recognition of the rights accorded to all 
other people. The use of money, particularly to the ex¬ 
tent it has been used in the last decade, has made it practic¬ 
ally impossible for a wage earner to become a member of 
either State Legislature or the Congress of the United 
States. I am sure every one who knows me will acquit me 
of the thought that I have my own personality in view. As 
a matter of reminiscence I may mention that I have twice 
declined nominations to the State Legislature of New Yorx, 
which carried with them the certainty of election. But I 
do say that it is a strange commentary upon the course of 
affairs in our country that in the Congress of the United 
States there is not one man who has been elected as a wage 
earner. Only yesterday morning we saw in the public 
prints in the cable dispatches from the other side that eigh¬ 
teen working men, as working men, had been elected to the 
House of Commons. 

A Member: Twenty-six this morning. 

Mr. Gompers: So much the better. I have not yet 
seen the morning papers. This, in spite of the fact that 


19 


members of the British Parliament receive neither fees nor 
salary, but the workingmen have gone down into their pock¬ 
ets and voluntarily contributed to the support of the men 
they elected so they may live in the ordinary customary 
way that workingmen live generally. I do not attach great 
importance to legislation from Congress in affecting the 
economic condition of the working people. I do not regard 
it as of paramount importance. But if we can obtain relief 
from onerous conditions, from old conceptions, if we can 
obtain absolute equality before the law I think we shall ask 
but little more. We are interested with you and will do all 
we can to aid this movement. But may I request that when 
the Chairman makes up his Committees and appoints offi¬ 
cers of the Association he will please not enumerate me as 
one of them ? I do not know that he would do me that hon¬ 
or, but my onerous duties would not permit my acceptance. 
I give you my assurance, however, that I will use my best 
endeavors to make the purposes of this Association a suc¬ 
cess. 

The Chairman: I am very sorry that Mr. Gompers 
has decided he cannot serve on our Executive Committee, 
for I certainly should have asked him. It will be of great 
help to us if he can find some satisfactory way of co-operr 
ating with us, unofficially, of course, and I think if the 
speech he has just made can be given publicity it would be 
of great assistance. 

Mr. Gompers: I have no objection at all. 

Mr. Alexander Troup, of Connecticut: I agree with 
Mr. Mack,. I believe if we can get this law on the statute 
book for its moral effect then we can go down into State or¬ 
ganizations. I am very much in sympathy with this move¬ 
ment. I think we should all concentrate on one point. First 
get the national law and then go forward and incorporate 
it into our State Legislation, for the bane of all this thing 
at the bottom is in our municipal legislation. 


20 


Mr. Gibbons, of Florida: Let me suggest that each 
member of this organization constitute himself a committee 
of one to communicate with his Representatives in Congress 
and Senate. 

With the modification that this action be deferred until 
the Law Committee had made its report to the full Com¬ 
mittee this suggestion was adopted. 

On motion of General Wilson, of Delaware, the meet¬ 
ing then adjourned, subject to the call of the Chairman. 


21 


ADDRESS TO THE PUBUG. 


National Publicity Bill Organization, 
Washington, D. C., Jan. 27, 1906. 

For the purpose of eliminating by all appropriate 
methods the evils resulting from secret contributions and 
expenditures of large sums of money in elections, a meet¬ 
ing was held in the city of Washington, January 17, 1906, 
an association was formed known as the National Publicity 
Bill Organization, and this address was authorized. 

“The secret and corrupt use of money in the election 
of the Chief Magistrate of a nation, its legislators, and its 
State and municipal officers is a dangerous menace to the 
institutions of a free people. The profligate use of money 
for such purposes enables the consolidated interests, by 
secret contributions, to dominate political organizations, de¬ 
priving the many of their political rights to confer them on 
the few. 

“It is confidently asserted that the first and most im¬ 
portant measure of relief is the passage of a national law, 
requiring the disclosure, under oath, of every contribution 
of money and every promise of money in national cam¬ 
paigns, and in case of evasion, providing for exposure, de¬ 
tention, and punishment, substantially as set forth in a bill 
prepared under the auspices of this Organization. 

“This Organization desires to promote the formation 
of similar organizations in every State of the Union, in order 
that the proposed national law may be supplemented by State 



22 


legislation of like character and as nearly uniform as possi¬ 
ble. This movement has the support of leading representa¬ 
tive men of the political parties and of organized labor. It 
concerns the rights and honor of every citizen, and the ap¬ 
proval and active co-operation of all are earnestly invoked 
to carry this reform to a successful conclusion.” 

(Signed) “PERRY BELMONT, 

“Of New York, President. 

“FRANK K. FOSTER, 

“Of Massachusetts, Secretary.” 


PERMANENT ORGANIZATION. 

President, 

PERRY BELMONT, of New York. 
Secretary, 

FRANK K. FOSTER, of Massachusetts. 


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

Perry Belmont, of New York. 

William E. Chandler, of New Hampshire. 
J. G. Schurman, of New York. 

James H. Wilson, of Delaware. 

A. H. Stevenson, of Colorado. 

Norman E. Mack, of New York. 

John E. Lamb, of Indiana. 

Charles S. Hamlin, of Massachusetts. 

John H. Clarke, of Ohio. 

Charles W. Knapp, of Missouri. 




23 


Alexander Troup, of Connecticut. 

W. R. Nelson, of Missouri. 

Cromwell Gibbons, of Florida. 

John W. Blodgett, of Michigan. 

Frank K. Foster, of Massachusetts, Delegate for the 
American Federation of Labor to the British Trade Union 
Congress. 

James H. Lynch, of Indiana, President of the Inter¬ 
national Typographical Union. 

James Wilson, of Pennsylvania, President Pattern 
Makers’ National League. 

LAW COMMITTEE. 

Charles A. Gardiner, of New York. 

John T. McCraw, of West Virginia. 

Louis E. McComas, of Maryland. 

Crammond Kennedy, of Washington. 

Hannis Taylor, of Alabama. 






;.•*> flk V>‘ k • V ' '* : *,'r 

fewvi^!:: ' ' •■ ■?,,: 

f 4ilr W. ' ■ S-.-v. Vvyyi'jiiA r ■* -J..' - n • i 

•J */ >5 . kewMK 'Sk -• .* 


- f. 


\K : kVvv?' :v . ; • --> 

. V- •-' . i]L- ) v, “ I* 'i J 

5 t» • . H. - : &)■ 


' 

;iv.n v 


:r,. 





' 


■•) v -t > *;c> •* itf•. • ; i' *-Li::\.■■ t Lm ’tiUiWtm • nil «•* V .- .*; v. . -; r •_ •!.,■ 'A.-st''ey ■ti¬ 



lt 




•■■VS-i. - ' * : SAI ./ ■ '■■ 1 . : ! - A ., , A 

, vr;.:>:ti' ■ »n h : , , m . a - sn \ ^4^:. a : a, ,a '..Jk. ?&.•;•, ;v ■ :•'. •• -a, ■; 4 ,> />. v 

■■ ■ ' ■. ■ ■ ’ .'>■ ■.■■ ... - -;■;•• - i ■' ■ a..v<- v ■'.; ■ .•-J; ' • 1 

' 




W. 




l-M.*: J 
C? 

L4>‘J; 


»Vf i, 4 y 
r . v;/ v 









f.A 




•C fcT-'-^u ^*/|.r/*ii. , r t, j, .. v•/ ^.*1: -V-C-, 


■ 


'. : f ■ .• J .'a ■ % f '%;f j. 

. '■ a" -.to' 

4 V v'- f v Afvu ■,•*<-,vv ««'?5 i viX- r . •'■ ^ 


- I:& ' 


'Mm .vf | §;mf mm' r .. - v.r ^ 4 .:;./.^^ •nif 

V'V '-’X-' 

m H' : l *¥!; - ■ s' fe ass . mm?mm 


&£] ■<. A 






fmtJtt ^ ■ wi''..-A 



iff m mmmmi mm mw'm : 'w ; - m 

v-■ 1 i.. ■■ , * • 

v /; '■■•... ?;$/, :M ■■■■■'■■■.■: -" ■ "■ . YYifflB 

:mK:W> :: WV^' ■ ■ * ■I '-S 9- ■ ‘I &* 4- i'' - 'f ■" - ! W - ; 

V-i V.f.' r ;'..^yj ’•':! -. . •' ■ > •.,--V'V. "ti Xr '/’V.#:'. ■ -.'; -V ..' , , 

i ?§k Jrf<' i /if* 4 * 'h . It 

•» IMf !l’r v fcflfc* #.'i! ! ■ :.vV ; ? 

' 

‘;..V, N ; l£^ ' , ' . f' ’*±1 ' { ‘ ••■ ' ' " • ■ '•. ■■ -, ■ ■' CS^\ 

> i-v v «fe\i-v4v..; T Vj \'Mtt ri:'r ;,-lf s-.io' ■" '■ ' A ’. 1 -j (.'■■'• : ,•■ ' ■■■ ; L -- >*■■; . , yA. if 


‘H't'r ;tV 


■' # 


. :v ; :■:•:■ : 

v,;m: - 'o* ‘!v ’' i 4 -' ■ '■’>■ %iv' ■ ' ; v f- •• y ■ ;,,,,1 'f. ; ' J •;"..»v 3 

fil | 

W^'tm 'k-ttM ■% - 

t ■:'■• ■;^i|v]SMfei '«§Mmm "r’.* - V:V.4 il<^;? ; ■■ ’ 

»H W frM -CAl ^.■■ .;;fb'Vs < ■■ - s - “’t 

»4 r i ,/■;.i.p •;■ >,: ;i ^ r# •-f v/.*' i •/ ?■;^ ■' 1 \ & 11 : ■ % < 



'. ' ’• ‘ •' ••' ’,''V ; ■'■’:'•■ 'e’‘ >••";• v' '• •; •• ‘ai-, 

■ :$i:w ! ■ ,4 

■:. '/?$<' *!•• ■ V'J ? , V ; ;■ • •' . . 

:-(> ■ 1 ,,i; > - , : % Y' 

a 

■ 

■ ■. 

















LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



0 006 046 997 0 









































